Little Egg Harbor, NJ

Last week we spent three days in Little Egg Harbor visiting Aunt Loretta and Uncle Bob. They live in a retirement community just minutes from the New Jersey shore. We had such a great time! They, as usual, wined and dined us to the max. On the first day, Aunt Loretta and I went to the swimming pool with Trafton while Daniel and Uncle Bob hit some golf balls at the range and went out for a beer. The second day we spent the morning visiting Wildwood Crest and Cape May (what a cute town!) and in the afternoon I went shopping with Aunt Loretta at her church's thrift store - and found all sorts of bargains! On the third day, we packed up and headed out to Long Beach Island for some ocean swimming. Trafton was incredibly well-behaved through all the adventuring and road-tripping.

Aunt Loretta and Trafton on the front porch

Uncle Bob and Trafton on the back porch

Front yard

Playing around in our guest room

Trafton enjoys his walker so much that we brought it with us - he cruised all over their house!

This is one of the bargains that we found for Trafton - a jack-in-the-box! He loves it.

He just thinks it's hilarious when it pops out.

I also found several pieces of clothing for me, some clothes for Trafton and other toys for him. I love thrift stores!

Trafton also really like using these lightweight nesting tables as a push toy on the hardwood. He did a bit of rearranging of household items over the course of our stay.

He slept like a champ both nights.

Standing in their front yard, ready to hit the beach on our last day

Time to get changed and covered in sunscreen

We went to the southern tip of LBI and saw the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, but it was closed. This is the public beach right next to the closed park in Holgate where we could swim.

Trafton was just checking everything out.

Surprisingly he did not try to eat the sand at all.

We held sat with Trafton at the water's edge for a while, but then this happened:

. . . after that happened a few times, Trafton was pretty content to stay on dry land!

He was super excited to see sea gulls, of course calling them 'cats.'

Checking out some shells

Time to get cleaned up and head home

Great Meadows July 8-10

We took a road trip to see the Beyers one last time before the big wedding! Jonathan and Melissa will be married in just a few more days!!!

Trafton really liked the pool this time - maybe it was because the water was a steamy 84 degrees? He loved it - he only screamed once and that was when Daniel went off the diving board.

Trafton especially like the float - and hanging with Aunt Courtney.

He is standing by holding onto everything these days.

I went to a really great kids thrift store in Hackettstown on Saturday and found a bunch of really cheap toys in good shape. I got this walker (my parents got him the same one for his birthday and he loves it!) for just $5 to keep at Pappy's house. This will come in handy since Pappy is certain to have other grandchildren! Did I mention that Jonathan and Melissa are getting married in a few days? :)

I also picked up this sit-n-spin for a few bucks.

Hanging out in Pappy's backyard

We stopped at Hot Dog Johnnys on our way back to Bloomsburg and had a peaceful picnic lunch by the water.

13 Months

Yesterday Trafton turned 13 months! He is really enjoying pointing to things and making a few different noises until you tell him what it is that he is pointing at. He is crawling everywhere and pulling up and holding onto everything to help him walk. No unassisted steps yet, but there is nowhere he can't get to! He is still taking a three-hour nap during the day which is pretty wonderful. He is such a great sleeper :) He is also extremely giggly at times, which is really fun.

All dressed up in his tux onesie

Using one of his walking tools

Hanging out on top of the cat tree

Trafton loves to get into the pots and pans cabinet

Trafton got this free reindeer cup when he got his picture taken with Santa at the mall last year. He still plays with it - his latest game is peek-a-boo with it.

Time for cabinet locks!

Our little rock star

(I mean, he is named after one of the greatest guitarists ever!)

He is happy to crawl up the backyard steps, however, he thinks he can go down them as well.

Crawling on daddy

Among the front yard flowers

More front yard flowers

Backyard lilies

Hanging festival-style in the backyard with daddy

Among the flowers at the Point Barn

In front of the Red Poppy at the Point Barn

Bathtime!

Eating some leftover birthday cake

Playing at the new toddler playground at the Town Park

Do you really have to keep taking my picture?

After running errands one morning, we came home and I was getting Trafton's lunch ready. When I was ready to feed it to him, he had fallen asleep. This was a first!

Trafton has been sleeping in this crawl position more and more. His little behind is sticking up in the air.